Routine Drug Testing May Reduce Incidence of Addiction, Study Finds
The United States has witnessed a tremendous increase in the incidence of addiction to various substances in recent years. The arrival of new designer drugs to the burgeoning drug market over time has only added to the woes of law enforcement agencies, with a growing roster of new users consisting primarily of teens, young adults , women and the elderly.
Many people do not understand the complexity behind drug addiction and think they just need willpower to stop drug abuse. However, this is not the case, as drug addiction is a brain disease that cannot be stopped suddenly, without outside help. However, scientific advances have made it possible to understand how drug addiction starts in a person, paving the way for ways that can be used to curb substance use and help them live a productive life.
According to a December 2016 study published in the journal Substance Use and Misuse, drug screening in primary care settings can help reach vulnerable populations. According to the researchers, early detection will not only help curb the rising incidence of drug addiction, but will also provide early treatment for those who test positive.
Importance of regular drug screening
In the study conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), researchers found a high prevalence of drug addiction in certain areas of Tijuana and East Los Angeles. It was observed that 19.4 percent of people who participated in a computerized self-administered survey in East Los Angeles community clinics admitted moderate to high drug use; while in Tijuana, the drug addiction rate was 5.7 percent. Both estimates were apparently higher than the data recorded by household surveys in both countries.
According to the researchers, Los Angeles patients born in Mexico were twice as likely, and Los Angeles patients born in the U.S., were six times more likely to be moderate to high drug users, compared to patients from Tijuana born in Mexico. The researchers also found that, contrary to assumptions, these regions had an equal or higher prevalence (from moderate to high use) of problematic drug use compared to problematic alcohol use. “Moderate to high alcohol use was 15.2 percent in East Los Angeles compared to 6.5 percent in Tijuana. Moderate to high tobacco use was 20.4 percent in East Los Angeles and 16.2 percent in Tijuana, “the study observed.
A regular drug screen, preferably in a primary care setting, can help track people who are vulnerable to developing a drug or alcohol addiction. In-person counseling with people struggling with addiction can prevent many from being caught up in the cycle of addiction. For many others who have developed a mild addiction, early treatment and counseling can prevent further harm from the addiction and ensure a speedy recovery.
The road to recovery
Although there is a stigma associated with addiction, the fact is that it is a brain disease that can be effectively treated. The support, love, and care of those around a person dealing with a substance abuse problem can help sober up. However, it is always wise to seek professional help rather than wasting time trying to handle it alone. Substance use disorders are treated at different levels of care in different clinical settings. Since addiction varies from one patient to another, it is not advisable to incorporate a common line of treatment for all patients.
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